Friction draft-gear.



TTUM.

` FRICTION DRAFT GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED SEITVI 7, |908.

Patented July 13, 1915.

@noauto-a Jmfum J. J. TATUM.

FRICTION DRAFT GEAR. APPLICATION FILED 55m17.190s.

Patented July 13, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1.1. TATUM.

' FRICTION DRAFT GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. lr. 1908. l

' Patented July 13, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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:omi s. Tumi, or

03E; MAEYAAED.

FBCTIGE BEMTG f" '.1

To all whom't may conc/:m:

Be it knownthntfl.l Jorim' J. TATUH,

vcitizen of the United Status, residing at Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Friction I`)raft-(ear; and I do ,declare the following to be a fuii, clear, sind exact description of the invention, such as will on! able others skilled in the art to which it apportains to make and use the same.

This invention relaties to improvements in draft gears or rigging. and moriJ particu larly those designcdvfor usc on railway caro.

In draft gears for railway cars it been common to ln'ovidc a lmiiing or caninioning moans within cai-sing :and to cui round these parts with u yokc or from@ that is rigidlyV comic/:ted at itis iront end to the coupler or draw har, the rear end oi thc yoke projecting beyond the rear or inner enti of. the casing and having the somo amount of movement as the'mupicr. This constrain tion requires mnsidcmhic spacc and Conni. to of an unnecessary number o parts.'

'It is the principai ohjmzt of my in vention to overcome theseohjcctions hy providing a draft gear insisting of few parto compactly arranged so :is to retin@ the re# quired space on thc ciir'for the application of the draft gear. `Thin ohicct in accomplished by dispensing with the nsniii shift ing yoke or from@ :and mounting; thc ciw ing for sliding movcmcntndi ioosoiy con nccting its front cnii with thc counicr or draw bar, as Wiii hc hcrcinntcr uiiy ticscribed.

' Another ohjoct of my invention is to giro vide an improved huiing; or cnnhioning means consisting of friction nutmeg. hinein? and springs :arranged to 's'ciiuc-:e maintain thc highest posihic friction esigono ity in :i given opaco.

With thcsc :imi othcr objects in vico',

invention consists of ccrtain novo? icsiturcii horizontal lonctiontaken on the iinc iff Fig. 1;' is a transfer-sc yficction taken on the lino '3f-ii of Fig. i; Fig. 4;

is :i voi'ticni:iongitutsinai ncctionfii vicw of gieci'scatioii o Reitero ltatcnt. Animation med mimo. if, ma. mi no. 452,496.

innemen muy i3, 1915.

:i modification; Fig. 5 is a horizontal sec tion token on the line- 5-5 of. Figr.; Fig.. (3 in ai detail perspective View of a moiiied draw-huihcad; Fig. is a similar view of another modified draw-bar head; Figs. 8 sind 9 are sectional views through portions of modicd forms of casings; Fig. 10 is n vcrticzii; iongitudinnl section of z'i'inothcr` modified form of draft gear; Fig. 11 is a horizontai occtionnl view thereof, and Fi iii ii; n vertical transverse section throng the form shown in Figs. 10 and 11.

in 'the cmiiodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. i, 2 :m 3 of the drawings, i empio); n mining 3, which may he of any' iicfiiroii cronsfccctionni shape, and in which ini-iv no mounts n snit/hic cushioning or hiiiing means, the one illustra being prefcrnhiy omnioycii :and hereinafter described. This casing?, 3 may he mounted in any suitniiic manner for longitudinal sliding movemont, and :it its roar is provided with lat cmi cxtcnfiions or projections 4,. 5, which canot with roar fitop ings l", 2 of the underramc of thc rfiiiirny czar, By having thc rear cnil of the nhiitnioic casing '3 coact with thc rear @tons in this; manner it will he soon ,that noch ond formo,- in cicct, a back oiowcr nicrniicr or pinto.

34 iicnotco' n. iront foiion'ci' rncn'ibor or prcsnurc iiioizit'ottcniiiiig through snitzihic openings in this zoning :imi having its projecting @nein wanting: with tiiciiiont stop ingo i., 2, of' the initier-'immo oi the car (scc Fig. 2E. 'iis raiatcii above, tho huiiing or cunhicnirn moans-4 if; arranged within the mining hotii'ecn oicisieii reni' cnil and the iront ioiioii'ier ni ninerv or pronsuro block .Et is'iii hc aiioi'sitooii that thc front and reni" ntogis i, Qi and i', if, may he of no? form sind ifonntim'ucti on.

A ,ooiagiicr or iiisin'ncni ifi arranged at thc oncn iront @mi mi 'tim costing 3 sind bietwccn :imno or tcnnions '59 i', .corrieri by the mining ii f i. mornin@ therewith. '.iiic arms or morn "i: it l?. procct forwardly from d ors angular block 26 isv adapted to move on the arranged with one of their inclined faces and pin connection. One method of making this loose slot and pin connection is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 'and comprises a pin key or lbar 39 passedpthrough openin s- 5 orslots 13, 10, 11,l formd, respectively, n

thepdraw-bar 12 andarms"v 6, 7. The opening 13 in the draw-bar is in the form of a slot and is formed in the enlarged or thickcned rear end of the same. This enlarged rear end of the draw-bar 12 is formed with hook-like lugs or shoulders 18, 19, which are adapted to engage similar hook-like `lugs of the arms 6, 7. By forming the engaging lugs or shoulders on the coupler or draw-bar and thearms of the casing, the

' strain will be taken oil of the pin o'r key 39,1l

as will be readily understood on reference to F i'g. .,fl. The draw-bar 12 is forced out- -of a suitable spring, such as a coils ring 38, interposed between the rear endp of the draw-bar. and thefront face of the follower Iiiember or pressure block 34, said spring being retained in position `b a lug or. in 35 carried by the front4 fol ower mem er or I pressure block. l I My improved hurling or cushioning means,

which is preferably employed within the Jrspringg22, the latter being arranged within the' former and both arranged longitudif 35/ nally in the rear of the casing 3 between itsrclosedrear end and the friction block 23. -This block 23-i's formed With diagonal faces or in'clines'24, 25,. and is mounted to slide tudinally in thecasing. A plurality rietion blocks 26 and 27, which are substantially pyramidal or triangular in crosssecti'on, are arranged in the casing with one of their inclined faces in engagement with the diagonal faces or'inclines 24 and 25 of the friction block 23. The flat base of the trilon of `inner face o'f.'one wall of the casing 3 with if its narrow side or a ex facing inwardly and the base of the bloc 27 is adapted to move on the inner surface of the oppositewall of the 4casing ,with its narrow side or apex facing inwardly. vCompression Vfriction v blocks 28,29, formed substantially pyramidal in.cr'oss-section, buty referably formed slightly-wider than the locks 26, 27, are

in position to engage said blocks 26, 27, 4andwith their wide' faces. positioned to engage with concentrically arranged compresslon springs 30 and 31 disposed between them.'.-These' compression springs 30 and- 31, aradapted to be compressed by the movements of Athe -blocks 28, 29, toward each other. The block 28 is mounted in the es* casingjso that its ll'ong umori 'Side 01'- en@ oulders 14, 15, formed on the outer ends wardl or forwardly vto maintain the said. shoul ers or lugs in engagement by means will allow the buffer `strain to casing 3, com rises f a .main compression u spring 21, whic may be asslsted bya second 28 will contact with the inner'face of one wall of the casingand the block 29-is ar-v ranged within the casing with its long narrow side 29 in contact with the inner face of the o posite wall of the casing. Frio. tion bloc s 32 and 33, similar to the blocks 26, 27, are arranged with one inclined side in position toengage the sides of blocks 28," 29, opposite blocks 26, 27. The opposite inclines ofthe blocks 32, 33 are engaged withf inclines 36, 37, formed on the frontfollowe member or pressure block 34 (see Fig.4

Draft strains transmitted through tlil draw-bar 12 wiushift or' slide the easing. i

forwardly on the under-frame of the can, which movement will be resisted by the front follower membenor pressure block 34.

and by compression springs 21 and 22 and 30 and 31, the springs 21 and 22 being comfI pressed longitudinally while the s rings and 31 are compressed transverse y ofv the,l n

casing. l

In the buffer action, the` buffe;` str-ins.mia-...j`l v l transmitted from the draw-,bar1`2 tofthe spring 38, which, when .full compressed,l

by the front follower plate or pressure block Y *9.0 transmitted 34 to the cushioning 0r bumngaevicesfwim' in the casing 3. In this connection, itwill,` be noted that owing to' the engagementof@ the extensions 4, 5, on therea'r end 'of y the casing 3, with ythe rear stop lugs member or block34 will causevthe "springs 122-'. casing occupies a stationaryposltion and' the:j rearward movement kof the front foll'ov'irerI 100 '21, 22 and 30, 31 to be compressed, as' abovej explained. In 1 this connection', .it willjbe noted that the slots in which the'piii `39 I works must be of suici'ent lengthv to allow the. "solid compression n of 'sprlng 38; and springs 30, 31 and 21,' 22, and, consequently,

hausted and the of the slots.

Sion Springs, whereby the maximum amount of frictional and resilient 'resistance'is se'- ner that the blocks, due to frictional en each other, will not's'erious blocks or decrease their e ciency'.. Thev gement with disable said i amount 'of frictional resistance secured thepeculiar construction and arrangementf-J of the various friction and frlction Acompresffj f" sion blocks is such thatl the'gear' will 'wit stand the hard usage to whichv friction ars of this character are subjected. -It wi l'be noted that both draft and buffer strains will I, be positively resisted by the'friction blocks,

the inclined faces of which are ada ted to bear with great resistance against eac vvother ist cured in a limited space, andv insuchi'rnan-j constant wear of thelfri'ction maarre and that the moment the droit or buffer strains are removed, the springsjwill foroe the various' parts to their normal positions.

In Fig. 'Z the draw bar is shown with. flat shoulders l2' instead of nooit-shaped shoulders or lugs, in Fig. 1.

ln Fig. 6 the draw bar is shown with rounded or curved shoulders lll', 17', so that the coupler or draw bar will be permitted to have a limited radial'morement. Similar curved shoulders 16, 17a, are shown on the draw bar 122 in the modilied forni of the invention illustrated in Figs. il?, il and l2 of the drawings. The lasementioned ern- Vbodiment of my invention is unite similar to the one shown in Fig. Lthe only differences being in respect to the shape of the shoulders 16, 17a, the` omission of the spring .5l-fl, and the provisitm of ribs or corrugations within the casing to increase the amount of friction surface. ln Figs. l0, ll and 12 of the drawing the casing 3' has formed on the inner faces of its top and bottom longitudinal ribs or corrugations 3a, and similar ribs or mrrugations are formed on the opposing surfaces of the friction blocks or members at', 2a, 0,2', ny providing these longitudinal ribs on the enacting or engaged parts, the amount of friction surface will be materially increased.. The ribs or corrugations may be Vsliaped in cross-section, as shown in Fig. l2, and also in F ig. F, or said corrugations may be of semi-cylindrical shape, shown at 3 of the 'casing 3* in Fig. fl of the drawing. The springs 2l', 22 and 330', 3l', are employed in Figs. 10, 1i and 1:2, the as in Fig. l, and the front follower member or pressnre block 24' is similar and coacts with the front stops 1; 2a. the lugs l. 5", on the rear of the casing,1 3 coactingY with the rear stops l", 2f. In this form of the invention, which omits the spring 3S, the rear face of the coupler or draw-bar head l!a is curved or rounded and bears against the front follower men:- ber or pressure block 34. ln other respects the construction and operation of this form Iof the invention are the saine as the forni shown in Fig. l.

)ly improved spring buing or cushioning means described above in connection with my improved yolreless dratgear may be used in connection with a tirait gear having a yoke, and in Figs. l and 5 of the drawings I -have illustratori the same. The casing 32 in this modication is formed with a rear opening., through which the inner coil ring 22* is adapted to project against a back follower plate il. This plate -il engages the rear stops 1', 2d, and is arranged in the rear portion of 'a U-shaped frame or yoke 4?. T his yoke extends around the casing 3G and has its forwardly projecting ends rigidly secured to the coupler or draw-bar 12, as shown in Fig. 4. In operation, the

draft strains will be imparted to the cushioning springs and pressure blocks through the yolre l5 andthe rear follower plate or member 41.

lt will be noted that in the preferred cmbodimcnt o f my invention, illustrated in liigs. 1 and l!) of the drawings, the necessity of a yoke or U-'shapcd strap is obviated and the number of parts necessary to produce an ellective draft gear is*7 therefore. reduced. This fcatnre is .of great economic importance to railroad construction, since it enables the production, operation and replacement of various parts of the gear at a lower cost than has been heretofore practical.

lt will be noted that the necessity for the surrounding yoke has been overcome by mounting the casing!l for slidingr or shifting,y movement and having its rear end serve as the back follower plate while its front end loosely receives the coupler or draw bar, the latter coacting with the bufling or cushioning means within the easing.

l'1 rom the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood with out requiring a more extended explanation.

`Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details ofconstmction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention claimed.

l claim as my invention:

l. A. friction draft gear comprising a cas ing, a horizontally compressible spring arranged therein, a vertically compressible spring also arranged therein, inwardly mov ing friction compression blocks arranged to bear against said vertically compressible springand friction blocks arranged to en gage said compression blocks and moved by said horizontally compressiblc spring, said blocks being shaped to increase the resisting efliciency ofthe gear on the crowding of the blocks on each other.

2. .il friction gear comprising a casing formed with laterally projecting arms, front and rear follower stops, said casing engaging said rear follower stops, a longitudinally comprensible spring mounted in the casing and adapted 'to bear against the inner end thereof, a pressure block arranged to bear v against the other end of said compression spring, a plurality of pyramidally-shaped friction blocks arranged to bear against the pressure block, a plurality-of compression blocks arranged to engage the pyramidallyshaped blocks, a spring compressible transversel y of the casing and positioned between the compression blocks, a second presmire block formed with laterally extending arms arranged to bear against the front follower stops, and aVA plurality of pyramidallyshaped blocks positionedbetween. the last I mentioned pressure yplate and the compres-` sion blocks. y n

3; A friction gear compr1s1ng a casing if formed with lateral projections, compression means arranged to bear-against the inner end of the casing and be compressed by a longitudinal movement thereof, a longitudinally movable pressure lblock arranged te. bear against the compression means, said block being formedwith diagonal faces, a plurality of pyramidally-shaped independent friction blocks arran Ved to bear against the diagonal faces of the'mpressure blocks, af

- plurality of diagonallyfaced independently movable compression blocks arranged to bear against the pyramidally-shaped"blocks, means arranged between the compression blocks and adapted to be compressed in a direction transversely of the casing, pyrami-- dally-shaped blocks arranged to bear against a partof'the faces of the compression blocks, a 'diagonally faced pressure plate formed with. laterally projecting follower arms arranged to extend through the casing and 25,

engage lugs formed on the under-framing of a car and*` adapted to move against the last-mentioned pyramidal blocks, andmeans for connectingrthe casing to a coupler-head.

4. A friction gear comprising a slidable casing, a longitudinally compressible spring Y mounted in the casing and'adapted to bear against the inner end thereof, a' `pressure block arranged to bear against the other end of said compression spring, a

plurality of pyramidally shaped friction,

blocks arranged to bear against the pressure block, a plurality of compression blocks arranged to engage the pyramidally shaped Vblocks,`.a spring compressible transversely of the casing and positioned between the compression blocks, a second pressure plate 

